More Water for My Concrete

By Marian Olivia Heath Griffin

“GOD IS BEGINNING TO GIVE ME A NEW SELF-IMAGE,” MEDFORD LEE TOLD ME. “OFTENTIMES, I FELT ISOLATED AND ALONE, ASHAMED OF MYSELF. I TRIED TO NORMALIZE AND FIND USEFUL RESOURCES TO HELP MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.”

MEDFORD LEE FREASWATER WAS LIVING WITH FEAR OF HIS IMMEDIATE PAST AND WAS VERY ANXIOUS ABOUT THE FUTURE AS A YOUNG MAN. HE REALLY DIDN’T HAVE ANYONE TO TURN TO ABOUT HIS PROBLEMS. HE WAS A HIGH SCHOOL DROP-OUT BUT LATER, HE RETURNED TO SCHOOL.

HE HAD MADE BAD CHOICES IN HIS TEEN YEARS AND NOW HE IS SEEKING DELIVERANCE. MANY SITUATIONS CALL FOR INVOLVEMENT ON DIFFERENT LEVELS: FINANCES, PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, SIBLING ISSUES, REARING OF CHILDREN AND TEENS AS WELL AS OTHER NECESSITIES OF LIFE THAT CALL FOR HELP BEYOND THE FAMILY OR COMMUNITY LEVEL.

MEDFORD LEE HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE AMONG CHOICES FOR HIS CAREER, MISSION AND HIS LIFE OR FACE THE PROPHESY THAT HIS LIFE WAS IN DIRE STRAIGHTS OF DECLINE. HIS CHOICES AND DECISIONS WERE TRIPLY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY FOR HIMSELF AS WELL AS HIS NEW GENERATIONS. EVERY GENERATION IS A CARE-GIVER FOR THE NEXT. HE ANCSTORS ARE HIS ROCKS IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE AND IN THE GOOD TIMES.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669853398

Marian Olivia Heath Griffin

Marian Olivia Heath Griffin lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with her husband of fifty-eight years. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and College Administrator (retired) for thirty-six years, the last seven years as Director of International Student Affairs. After she retired from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she decided to utilize her degree in Mass Communication and Photography to tell her people’s stories and history. Griffin graduated from Delaware State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Psychology, a Master’s Degree program in Atlanta University School of Social Work, a Master’s Degree program at Gammon Theological Seminary of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. She received her Master’s Degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Psychological Counseling and Social Work. She received a Master’s Degree in Educational Supervision and Mass Communication and Photography from Southern University. She did further study at Louisiana State University and Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She studied Genealogy at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library in Baton Rouge. She has traveled over the fifty states of the U.S. and six of the seven continents. She has written eighteen books in two years, published them with XLIBRIS and compiled and published two photo books with MYCANVAS BY ALEXANDER. She is proud of her three children: Rev. Bertrand, II (Rev. Kotosha Seals Griffin), Karen G. Phenix, (Keith Phenix) and Dr. Michael (Tracie Haydel Griffin). She adores her eight grandchildren: Nia, Kiara, Christian-Paris, Michael, II. Amelia-Grai, Victoria, Olivia and Sophia – all Griffins and one god-child, Whitney White, one great grandchild – Keomi Phenix, one great- godchild, Amelia Pleasant and her brother, Warren, six great- nieces, Whitney Foucheaux, Amoree Sanders, and Danee Heath, Tikia and Lentia Brown, and great nephews: Bobbie, Jr., Enrique and Alberto Garcia, Tyler Heath, Lauren and Kee Kee Dennis, Arshawon Brown (recently deceased), Willie, Jermaine. Brown, Michael Martin and sons, and Devonte Walker.

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Copyright © 2022 by Marian Olivia Heath Griffin.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Rev. date: 10/27/2022

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

847987

CONTENTS

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

AUTHOR’S NOTES

NOT PERFECT IN CHARACTER

THE DAWNING

MY FIRST TRAFFIC TICKET

A TO-DO LIST

PART 1

ANCESTRY OF DE LA FOUNTAINES

FROM NORMADY, FRANCE

DESCENDANTS OF DE LA FOUNTAINES OF NORMANDY, FRANCE

GENERATION I

GENERATION 2

GENERATION 3

PART 2

ANCESTORS OF FOUNTAINS:

OF THE UNITED STATES

GENERATION 4

GENERATION 5

GENERATION 6

GENERATION 7

GENERATION 8

GENERATION 9

GENERATION 10

GENERATION 11

GENERATION 12

GENERATION 13 AND 14

GENERATIONS 15 AND 16

GENERATIONS 17, 18 AND 19

GENERATION 20

PART 3

ANCESTRY OF FRESHWATER

GENERATION 2

GENERATION 3

GENERATION 4

GENERATION 6

PART 4

INTRODUCTION -PERIPHIRAL HISTORY

PREFACE

LET’S START AT THE BEGINNING

OUR TRIP TO DELAWARE

MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION NEEDED

BARACK OBAMA’S TEEN YEARS COMPARED TO MEDFORD LEE FRESHWATER’S TEEN YEARS

BARACK OBAMA’S CHANGE OF HEART

MEDFORD LEE’S LIFE WITH DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SPEAKS

TEMPERANCE AND DISIPLINE

MY FAVORITE AUTHOR

A DIARY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN

ONCE MORE, TO RESEARCH

PART 5

THE EUROPEAN CONNECTION

Chapter 1: MEDFORD LEE FRESHWATER: CHILD OF TWO CULTURES

DIFFERENCES IN CHILDREN

GENERAL HISTORY

STORIES, ROOTS AND DREAMS

THE NAACP REPORT

MEDFORD LEE’S RIGHTS TO LIGHT

PART 6

OUT OF AFRICA

Chapter 2: OUR AFRICAN ANCESTORS

EGYPT: THE NILE RIVER

TIME LINES AND CONTINENTS

FINDING THEIR ROOTS

EGYPTIANS: ARCHITECTURE

WEAKENING OF ANCIENT EMPIRE

EGYPT AND CHRISTIANITY

MEDFORD LEE’S UPWARD STANCE

HOW HARD TO GROW UP

FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD

DIVERSITY IN LIVING PATTERNS

FRESHWATER FAMILY

THE BIRDS BUILD THEIR OWN NESTS

MEDFORD LEE ‘S INSTINCTS

Chapter 3: MEDFORD LEE FRESHWATER: A LIFE OF ADVENTURE

A MUST, NOT A MAYBE

THE BIBLICAL WOMAN AT THE WELL

A GIFT OF WATER

Chapter 4: MEDFORD LEE FRESHWATER -UNAFRAID OF RISKS

CALL IT STUPIDITY

CARING FOR SELF

GETTING DEEPER

SAYING NO

SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS

THE LOVE OF ANIMALS AND FAMILY

TIME AND PURPOSE

THE TWO BLIND MEN

TEACHABLE MOMENTS

BLEAKEST HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES

FAILURE OF COURAGE

THOSE BEFORE US

Chapter 5: MEDFORD LEE FRESHWATER - FACING OUR CHALLENGES

A CHALLENGE

Chapter 6: MEDFORD LEE’S ANCESTORS

WILLIAM FOUNTIAN, SR.

CAPTAIN WILLIAM FOUNTAIN, Jr. and III

JOHN HENRY FOUNTAIN

JOHN HENRY FOUNTAIN’S MISFORTUNE

THE JONAH STORY

JONAH WANTED HIS WAY

JOHN HENRY FOUNTAIN’S AFFLICTION

JOHN HENRY FOUNTAIN MARRIED AMANDA COLLINS

Chapter 7: MEDFORD LEE FRESHWATER - HIS PILGRIMAGE

DOCUMENTS AND ORAL HISTORY

WHAT IS A MID-WIFE

SIBLINGS RAISING SIBLINGS

HOSPITAL BABIES

Chapter 8: MEDFORD LEE FRESHWATER - KNOWING YOURSELF

THIS IS HOW IT STARTED

LISA TELLS HER STORY

NEVER GIVE UP ON YOURSELF

FACING FACTS

DEALING WITH OTHERS

ANOTHER TEEN’S STORY

TEEN CULTURE

DO NOT EVER WRITE YOURSELF OFF, MEDFORD LEE.

LOOKING AT LIFE DIFFERENTLY

A BLENDED FAMILY

A NEW SPIRIT

Chapter 9: MEDFORD LEE FRESHWATER: WHAT’S IN A NAME

MEDFORD LEE’S CHALLENGES AMONG HIS HISTORY

HELEN KELLER, A BLIND SCHOLAR

MEDFORD LEE’S HIDING PLACE

MEDFORD LEE’S ANCESTORS

Chapter 10: THE ORIGINAL AFRICAN

WALKING OUT OF AFRICA

Chapter 11: LUCY’S LEGACY: THE HIDDEN TREASURE OF ETHIOPIA

TOURS OF LUCY’S LEGACY’

Chapter 12: MEDFORD LEE FRESHWATER: DESCENDANT OF AFRICAN BUILDERS

OUR AFRICAN ROOTS

THIS IS HOW IT CONTINUES

EVIDENCE OF FIRST SETTLERS IN AMERICA

WHO MADE THE PYRAMIDS AND TEMPLES?

Chapter 13: MEDFORD LEE FRESHWATER: APPRENTICE OF AFRICAN BUILDERS

NOAH’S OBEDIENCE

MEDFORD LEE’S OBEDIENCE

OUR DWELLING PLACE

PICTURING MEDFORD LEE’S BURDENS

Chapter 14: MEDFORD LEE FRESHWATER – MORE WATER FOR MY CONCRETE

THE PURPOSEFUL PYRAMID

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE GIZA WATER WORKS!

ANCESTRAL BUILDERS

Chapter 15: MEDFORD LEE’S MISSION: A HERO’S JOURNEY

Chapter 16: MEDFORD LEE’S PROFESSION WAS HIS MISSION.

Chapter 17: CONTINUE THE JOURNEY

PHOTO SECTION

CONCLUSION/CONTINUATION

BIBLIGRAPHY

REFERENCE BOOKS

SELECTED SOURCES

SELECTED READING

REFERENCE BOOKS – EGYPT

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

OTHER BOOKS

by

MARIAN OLIVIA HEATH GRIFFIN

CULTURAL GUMBO, OUR ROOTS OUR STORIES

A DIARY OF LETTIE’S DAUGHTERS

THEN THERE WAS NIA

BORN IN A SHACK DID NOT HOLD ME BACK

CHATS WITH MY THREE OLIVIAS

MAMA FANNIE

ENCHANTMENT IN ATL

WATCH YOUR STEP, YOU’R SOMEONE’S HERO

EACH DAY A NEW HIGH

A LOAF OF BREAD AND A CUP OF TEA,

KEEPING YOUR MARRIAGE ALIVE

THE DAY I MET NANO

A VOICE CALLS IN THE NIGHT, FIND

MY PEOPLE, SAVE MY PEOPLE

ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

OF AFRICAN AMERICANS

BEFORE AND AFTER THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

A BLIND HEART AS I SEE IT

LOOK TO THE LIGHT, SISTERS

TALK TO MY HANDS

I KNOW ME

SUFFER THE INNOCENT CHILDREN

MEETING AT THE FIRES

IN HIS OWN IMAGE, HOW I GOT OVER,

STRAIGHTEN UP, AMERICA

NEVER SETTLE FOR LESS, ALWAYS THE BEST

IF BLACK IS A COLOR, WHAT IS MELANIN?

NEVER ALONE, LIVING IN THE REAL WORLD

PICTURE BOOKS

THE FAMILY OF HATTIE DRUCILLA WISE HEATH

THE FAMILY OF MARIAN OLIVIA HEATH GRIFFIN

FIFIETH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

DEDICATION

DEDICATED TO THE FOUNTAIN /

FRESHWATER FAMILIES AS AN

AUTHENTIC GUIDE TO OUR

DESCENDENTS TO WHOM WE OWE

SO MUCH AND SHALL TEACH THEIR

HISTORY TO THE WORLD.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many persons around the world, especially my immediate family, heartened me on this journey. I am deeply grateful and honored for the influence of working with so great a witness of people. Neither time nor space allows me to acknowledge and thank all the persons for the countless acts of support and encouragement I received from individuals who walked and talked with me throughout my days. I am particularly appreciative of the support and love of my family. I will always be indebted to God and everyone who shares life with me and are loyal to me. I still have much to learn about myself, other people and animals.

The actions, thoughts, observations and feelings of these grand-spirited people cannot be overstated. I am thankful for the solidarity, lessons, skills, talents, tenacity, insight and the thoughts of my ancestors.

First of all, let me thank my God-given mother, Lettie Harper Heath and father, George Wesley Heath, Sr. who with the help of God, gave me life. I am blessed to have had grandparents, Sadie Fountain Harper and Herbert Sidney Harper and Hattie Wise Heath and William Will Heath, Jr., aunts and uncles and cousins, and ancestors who survived many adversities in their lives as they lived great lives until they passed away.

They taught us as children to get over ourselves and be true to our own lives. I am pleased to thank my whole host of relatives. We all have lived through the good times and the bad times, knowing of dangers and pitfalls of life. But it was worth it.

As Charles Dickens said in his book, THE TALE OF TWO CITIES, It is the best of times, it is the worst of times. It always has been and it always will be.

Let me thank my siblings: Phyllis Heath Pepper, (Willie Alex Pepper, Sr.- both deceased), George Wesley Heath, Jr. (Corine-deceased), Daniel Louis Heath, Sr. (Lois Randall Heath- both deceased), Joseph Burton Heath, Sr. (1-Mamie Heath, 2. Barbara Heath), Nancy V. Heath Kellam, (Albert Lee Kellam, Jr) and Hattie Elvira Heath (Gerald Purnell – both deceased).

These are my siblings who taught me good things and bad things and lots of love, information and support.

Let me acknowledge and thank my three children and their spouses: Rev. Bertrand Griffin, 11 (1. Shawana Redmond Griffin, 2. Rev. Kotosha Seals Griffin), Karen Griffin Phenix (Keith Berlin Phenix), and Dr. Michael G. Griffin (Tracie Haydel Griffin) for their indulgence and love. They actually helped me be a better writer. Our children have always been our pride and joy, even when they were young and required much attention. My children and in-law children are trustworthy and have worked with me by reading drafts of my books and helped me work through ideas and are my super-critics.

I adore our eight grandchildren, Nia Olivia Griffin, Kiara Janelle Griffin, Christian -Paris Bertrand Griffin, 111, Michael Gerard Griffin, 11, Amelia-Grai Addison Griffin, Victoria Olivia Griffin, Olivia Christina Griffin, and Sophia Morgan Griffin. They have become my information center and have become inspirational to me. They are my little playmates and my special little people. I have other little people – a great – god-child, Amelia Pleasant and her brother, Warren, (Sanettria and Gregory Pleasant, parents), Amoree Sanders, a special great-niece (Delasper and Warren Sanders -deceased).

My niece, Mary Heath-Cherry, her daughter, Derika Walker, and son Andrew Walker (deceased).

My first nephew, Willie Alex Pepper, Jr, (deceased) and a special niece, Terri Brown -Pepper and their children, Arshawon, (deceased), Tekia, Lentia, Willie, 111, and Jermaine are very dear to me. These persons are a part of the new generation and must carry on in this life. Let us teach them right as they are a rich part of our family.

Let me acknowledge my cousins and childhood playmates: my mother’s first cousin, Virginia Fountain Freshwater (John Freshwater- both deceased), Virginia’s brothers, Martin, Sylvester, Sr., Woolford, their children, Lucille (Fountain) Freshwater Harmon (John Harmon,) Medford Lee Freshwater (Starrann Hood), Sylvester, Jr.. (deceased at an early age) and Jackson. These cousins lived on the Fountain Homestead in Seaford/Middleford, Delaware by 1970 and we visited them occasionally.

My childhood playmates -cousins in the state of Virginia are Grace Jones Nock (deceased) and her children, Leonard (deceased), Joyce, Janet, Martin (Stephine), Norman Nock, Evelyn Nock Linares, Elferia Nock (George Melton) and our other cousins, John L. Heath (deceased) and daughter, Evelyn Heath Bell and children, Dr. George Edward Heath (Kim) and children, Sandra Brickhouse and family, Vernal Drayton, his family and his mother, Bessie Logan (deceased) who were very dear to me.

I apologize for the names of cousins and childhood playmates I may have forgotten as I have been away from them too long.

My elementary and high school teachers, especially Miss Mary Daniels, (deceased) first and second grade teacher, and Miss Elizabeth Dix (deceased), home room teacher for four years and English teacher at William C. Jason High School in the Delaware school districts. They helped me define myself and know who I am.

I am honored to thank my clergy and members of St. Mark United Methodist Church: Rev. Simon and Rev. Eunice Chigumira, Senior pastors of St. Mark and Jorden United Methodist Churches, including Chaplain Bertrand Griffin, and Rev. Glorious Wright.

Some of my precious members of St. Mark UMC are the 90- PLUS GROUP (which I organized).

Those members who are still living are: Mildred Bowie (106 years old), Charlotte Burkhalter, (late nineties,) Emily Marshall, (late nineties, recently deceased) Alice Stepter, (one hundred years old) and Vertlee Washington, (one hundred two years old.) Those who are recently deceased are Ruth Eby, Nathalie Holloman, Eleanor S. Miles, Ruth Myers, Ella Pitts, Doris Thompson, and Emily Marshall.

Other special members of St. Mark are Lorita Frank, Dollene Sims. Dorothy Collins (cousin) Rozelyn and Lynn McGee, Edna Hickman, and Lottie Robinson (sisters), Sanettria and Gregory Pleasant, (Bertrand’s cousins) Patricia Watson, Eunice Simmons and Sophia Ennin (mother and daughter from Ghana- cousins), Catherine and Semmie Martin, Aricia and Jody Laveign, Linda Cannon and Francine Cannon (nieces), Whitney Fouchaux (great-niece), Edwina Jackson, Vinnie Davis, and others- Ethel Blaze, musician.

I sing in two choirs at St. Mark: Sanctuary choir and Female Ensemble.

Other special church members are my St. Mark Cherubim Choir- past and present- which I organized fifty years ago and am still the director and pianist.

Let me say belatedly that I am so proud of my Cherubim choir members who have grown up to be doctors, lawyers, ministers, teachers, chemists, engineers, musicians, mental health counselors, politicians, social workers, corporate leaders, businessmen, Armed Service members and officers, food service mangers, and law enforcement officers.

Ninety -nine percent of these choir members graduated from high school and nine-five graduated from college. We are so proud of them.

I am particularly grateful for my many friends who have supported me over the years as I’ve walked many steps with them. They are my seminary community and other friends: Rev. Dr. Leslie Lester and Roszeta Porter Norris, Bishop Alfred and Mackie Norris, Rev. Robert and Helen Williams (both deceased), Rev. Dr. George and Mae Calvin-Belton (both deceased), Rev. Dr. Donald and Marcia Avery, Rev. Dr. Jesse L. Douglass, Professor Julian White (deceased), (honored for being the first African American professor at Louisiana State University) and Loretta White, his wife. Their youngest child, Whitney White is our god-child.

I will acknowledge my sorority sisters and many friends that I have made on